Gaff to be applied to the spur of a fighting cock



Nov. 16, 1954 F. Y. BENBOW GAFF TO BE APPLIED TO THESPUR OF A FIGHTING COCK Filed July 25. 1953 INYENTOR Frank Y Benb'ow' BY //Z.@, w VW ATTORNEYS A l\ KAI-I); 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII. '1' W MWWW I I I I I n I United States Patent '0 GAFF ruinmnnrntn ro rnitsw 'm OF A FIGHTING coon spur of a fighting cock.

An object of the invention is to provide a gaff having i a pointed member which is readily replaceable whereby a new pointed member may be substituted for the pointed member on the gaff.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the angle of the pointed member without removing the gaff from the fighting cock.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a gaff which consists of a minimum number of parts, and which is not liable to get out of order.

Yet another object is the provision of a gaff having a pivotally mounted pointed member with means for ad- JgJSIlHg the pointed member during a rest period of a cock Other objects will appear hereinafter throughout the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure l ilustrates the side elevation of one form of the invention, and showing in dotted lines an adjusted position of the pointed member;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1 with the pointed member removed;

Figure 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the sleeve and spring pressed plunger forming part of the pointed member;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the pointed member bearing pin; and

Figure 5 illustrates another form of pointed member.

It has been observed that during the course of a cock fight, one or both of the antagonists becomes gradually less able to strike with the vigor and accuracy as at the beginning of the fight. This is due to exhaustion and possibly loss of blood. When this condition occurs the angle at which the cock directs his spur gradually changes. With the device of this invention it is possible during any rest period of the fight to adjust the angle of the pointed member to compensate for the aforesaid condition. This may be accomplished in the present device without removing the gafi from the spur of the bird.

In the drawings indicates the base of the gaff. Ex-

tending substantially at right angles to the base is a substantially cylindrical extension or sleeve which is shaped to surround the spur of the fighting cock, and this sleeve has a pair of bosses 14, 14.

The gaif is secured to the leg of the fighting bird by means of a leather sleeve, not shown, which is secured around the leg, the sleeve being attached to the gaff by strings, not shown, which engage the spaced apertures 16.

The numeral 72 in Figure 1, indicates an opening for lacing.

The bosses 14 are provided with aligned apertures 18 and 20. Each of these apertures may have internal screw threads such as shown at 18, but I prefer to provide one of these apertures with a smooth or plain surface 20. These apertures are engaged by the bearing pin 22, one end of which is provided with a head 24 andthe opposite end with threads 26 which engage respectively the plain surfaced aperture and the screw threaded aperture 18. The central portion of the pin 22 forms a pivot for the pointed member such as a knife 28. The pointed member may be provided with a sharpened end 30. The pointed member 28 may be curved as shown in Figure 1 or it may be of any shape, as the invention is not concerned with the shape of the pointed member.

It will be understood that in most instances the pointed member will not be provided with cutting edges such "Ice as those .shown .in Figured, ,buti merely with a-sharpened end such as end'30. 1

The opposite, end of the pointed: member is provided with .a socket for. the; reception :of: one :end-iof' the :sleeve 32, which. sleeve.may,- be permanently rigidlycconnected'to the pointed member by suitable means, such as welding;v The sleeve is; provided with a ';slot.3.4z. SIidabIy-mounted in the v sleeve is azplungenSS?havingiaihead or-sraised-portion, 40; which slides-rin-i the slot; 34 andfllimits-ithecmove-z 1 ment of the plunger. The plunger is biased in a rightward direction as viewed in Fig. 1 by the spring 36, and its head 44 is adapted to engage in any one of the series of spaced apertures 42 in the base 10.

The pointed member shown in Figure 5 is similar to that shown in Figure 1 except that a differently shaped pointed member 50 is used, and such blade may be readily substituted for the blade 28. This pointed member 50 is provided with sharpened side edges 52 and 54 and a sharpened end 56 at one end. The opposite end has an aperture 58 for the reception of the pin 22, and a socket 60 for the reception of the sleeve 32.

It will be appreciated that the pointed member 28 is provided with an aperture, not shown, similar to the aperture 58 whereby said pointed member may be pivotally adjusted from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, or to other positions of adjustment in accordance with whichever aperture in the base is engaged by the head 44 of the plunger 38.

It will also be appreciated that other means of adjustment may beprovided in place of that shown, within the scope of the present invention. For instance, in place of the apertures 42 a rack may be used to be engaged by a spring pressed plunger mounted on the pointed member. Various other constructions suggest themeselves whereby the angle of the pointed member may be adjusted with regard to its base and particularly with regard to the cylindrical sleeve that engages the spur of the fighting cock.

The pointed member 28, or 50, is preferably made of a fine grade of steel. The other parts of the device are of steel, but other suitable materials may be used.

The words pointed member in the specification and claims indicate any instrument forming part of the gafl? that is used as the striking element thereof.

As noted in Figures 1 and 2 a trough is provided in order to prevent sidewise movement of the pointed member 28 or 50.

The above description and drawings disclose several embodiments of the invention, as specific language has been employed in describing the several figures. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitations of the scope of the invention are thereby contemplated, and that various alterations and modifications may be made such as would occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and what is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A gaff for fighting cocks comprising a base adapted to be fastened to the leg of the cock, said base including an extension having a curved portion adapted to receive the spur of the cock whereby to prevent rotation of said gaff about the leg of said cock, a pointed member pivotally mounted on said extension, and means carried by the base and pointed member to lock said pointed member at various angles whereby the angle of the gaff may be adjusted.

2. A gaff as set forth in claim 1 wherein an edge of the pointed member is sharpened.

3. A gaff as set forth in claim 1 wherein both edges of the pointed member are sharpened.

4. A gaff as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for holding the pointed member in various positions comprises a series of recesses in the base and the pointed member is provided with a spring pressed plunger to engage the recesses.

5. A gaff as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means for holding the pointed member in various positions comprises a series of recesses in the base and the pointed member is provided with a movable plunger to engage the recesses.

6. A gaff as set forth in claim 1 wherein the curved portion of said extension comprises a sleeve for receiving the said spur of the cock.

7. A gaff as set forth in claim 1 in which the base is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures for the reception of a suitable lacing for engaging the leg of a cock, and wherein said curved portion of said extension conlicprises a sleeve adapted to surround the spur of said one 8. A gait for fighting cocks comprising a base adapted to be fastened to the leg of the cock, said base including an extension having a curved portion adapted to receive the spur of the cock whereby to prevent rotation of said gaff about the leg of said cock, a pointed member piv-,

otally mounted on said extension, and means carried by the base and pointed member to adjustably hold said pointed member at various angles whereby the angle of the gaff may be adjusted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

